Update on 1st Century Sarmatian Weapons

[Alanus]

Folkert,

Since bows with syahs show up in the 2nd century BC, I would think there would be an overlap in the early part of the 1st century. The Scythian bow was "slower" (in arrow delivery) than the new style. For that reason, I think just about everyone switched fairly rapidly. Old finds in the Takla Makan show that both the early Sarmatians (Yue-chi and Wusun) and the Chinese were making bows with syahs. The Iaz-Iazyage bow-- first one to arrive in Europe-- had syahs. By the early 2nd century AD, the Roman army had switched to the new style. This is confirmed by the pile of syahs found at Caerleon, evidently from abandoned bows by the 2nd Legion. I think the old bow died a quick and natural death. And I really don't know what promted Simonenko to make the statements he did.

If you are planning on a bow for both early and late impressions, a Scythian bow would be "extremely old-fashioned." illy: